Trading in 2011 Honda Ridgeline for 2016 1500 Laramie

[RAMHON]

About to trade in my 2011 Honda Ridgeline for a 2016 1500 Laramie Hemi. Is air ride suspension a good feature? Does it make ride smoother or is that just hype? Any other features I should/not consider?

 

[bigfoot2219]

I tested mine against a laramie with air ride. To be entirely honest the air ride did make it feel a little more "floaty" but the standard ride with gas shocks is so impressive in this truck with its rear coil suspension that it is a minute difference. The biggest thing to me is the ability to lower the ride height for entrance/exit. Long term maintence is more expensive on air bags, however that's 5 years down the road. Either way my truck drives and rides more smoothly than my wifes mercedes 350 and she will admit that while gritting her teeth. Idk how they did it but the rams are top notch.

 

[madrussian]

Can't speak to the airride, but I would get the convenience package for the keyless entry and go, and the remote start which is a god send in colder climates especially.

 

[RAMHON]

How is the Hemi MPG? I'm getting the 32 gallon tank. My biggest complaint with my Honda is 22 gallon tank and average 16 MPG .

 

[bigfoot2219]

How is the Hemi MPG? I'm getting the 32 gallon tank. My biggest complaint with my Honda is 22 gallon tank and average 16 MPG .

I drive 80% city. In town i average about 16.7-17.3 on my dash. I constantly am between those two values. My highway drive is basically only to merge, change highway direction/hwy and exit, so all i do is dump fuel getting on the freeway daily. I have reset the computer before exclusive highway drives. I drove 3000 miles this summer across country and averaged over 20 mpg the entire way there and back. I have the 3.92 rear end, 3.21 may due even better on mpg. All said I am very pleased with the gas mileage of the beast, my previous Chevy with 5.3 got about 12 city 15 highway. MDS is valuable to me and so is the efficiency of an 8 speed trans.

 

[madrussian]

How is the Hemi MPG? I'm getting the 32 gallon tank. My biggest complaint with my Honda is 22 gallon tank and average 16 MPG .

I didn't have the larger tank but I was averaging right around 20mpg and that was with a large portion of highway and some city driving. I was very impressed w/ the 8-speed/Hemi combination.

 

[Quint]

Make sure that you get the beer coolers in the floor boards!

Oh wait, that's standard

 

[KahneFan]

I have a 4.5 mile drive to work, which I would almost consider city. When I only drive that, I get about 13.5. However, with the 8spd, when I hit the highway, I easily get it up to 16 - 18. Not sure how some people are getting 20. Although, 16 - 18 is doing 80 MPH on a tollway. So, 55 on a highway may get me there... if my foot weren't so darn heavy.

 

[Burla]

You are definitely upgrading, are they still making Ram Box? If so best option. The Ram already has coil back suspension, softest ride and yet leaves good performance then any truck ever. Air ride or not, you already have a great riding truck.

 

[Awastatyme]

I'm getting 18 mpg consistently on my trip to work. I drive around 70 mph on the highway but I have a lot of overpasses and a huge bridge to drive over that has construction on it, so I driving 25-30 mph over the bridge. On long trips i'm getting 23 mpg. This is from he EVIC
2015 1500 Laramie CC 32 gal tank 3.21 rear

 

[Desert Dude]

Make sure that you get the beer coolers in the floor boards!

Oh wait, that's standard

Is that the DUI package? Lmao. I liked that in the passenger seat in our old Dodge Journey.

My Note 3

 

[Jerry1984]

Air ride is nice for lowering it to load heavy items or my dog. Also really nice when hitching up a trailer. I put it in entry/exit mode back under ball and then put it to off road 2 mode. Get out clamp the hitch down, do my equalizer bars, then lower to normal height and off we go. Keeps it level no matter how heavy it's loaded (under 2000 pounds I've heard). Never had an issue myself. As to the ride, not sure if it's better or worse than standard but it's pretty damn nice. I've never had another ram or ridden in one.

 

[Johnnyjet]

I just traded my 2010 Ridgeline in on a 2014 sport. I was averaging 15 mpg n the Honda. I hope to do better with the Ram. I'll let ya know.

 

[RAMHON]

Another one of the features I will miss from my Ridgeline is my in bed/under bed storage trunk. Anyone have any good solutions that you use for dry storage in bed. I plan to install a Peragon tonneau cover. Anyone using the Peragon cover on the 1500?

I'm starting to question whether or not to do this trade....

 

[Cleave]

Another one of the features I will miss from my Ridgeline is my in bed/under bed storage trunk. Anyone have any good solutions that you use for dry storage in bed. I plan to install a Peragon tonneau cover. Anyone using the Peragon cover on the 1500?

I'm starting to question whether or not to do this trade....

What's making you question it? A lack of storage under the bed? Get a tonneau cover and be done with it. I've driven multiple Ridgelines and multiple Rams - you won't be disappointed if you switch.

 

[RAMHON]

What's making me question is all the extra tweaking I will have to do to get Ram up to same features as Ridgeline. I have been searching to find the right truck for months but have not been able to find exactly what I need from Ram dealer site. Lots of pluses and minuses but clearly Ram is best logical replacement.

Not a big deal but hate having to spend extra$ to get features already bought and paid for. Honestly I would keep my Ridgeline (served me well) but now just to small for my 6'4" frame. You are right - gonna just take time and $ to customize

 

[Timeless]

If you get the Ram Boxes, that should satisfy your dry storage needs.

If you need more, the cover is the next best option.

 

[Cleave]

What's making me question is all the extra tweaking I will have to do to get Ram up to same features as Ridgeline. I have been searching to find the right truck for months but have not been able to find exactly what I need from Ram dealer site. Lots of pluses and minuses but clearly Ram is best logical replacement.

Not a big deal but hate having to spend extra$ to get features already bought and paid for. Honestly I would keep my Ridgeline (served me well) but now just to small for my 6'4" frame. You are right - gonna just take time and $ to customize

Understandable. The Ridgeline and the Ram are aimed at two different segments. The Ridgeline is more of an SUV with a small bed and the features are designed as such. I struggled to find every single thing I wanted in a vehicle, but the Ram was definitely the most bang for the buck.

 

[RAMHON]

I just traded my 2010 Ridgeline in on a 2014 sport. I was averaging 15 mpg n the Honda. I hope to do better with the Ram. I'll let ya know.

How you making out with MPG - I finally traded my 2011 Ridgeline for a 2016 Laramie, Hemi with air ride in black. Pick it up tomorrow. First question is to mudflap or not to mudflap here in northeast?

 

[QwikKota]

Factory ride is awesome without air susp. I rode in a Cadillac Escalade ESV for an Uber trip through DC and I was not happy with how stiff the ride was. My Ram is way better but not floaty or with excess body roll. Love it.